Birds – Marsabit NP

Anthony is a renowned Africa expert and author of many Lonely Planet guidebooks, including the guide to Kenya.

Anthony is a renowned Africa expert and author of the Lonely Planet guide to Kenya.

Anthony is the author of the Lonely Planet guide to Kenya.

Marsabit is a birder’s paradise. It has almost 500 species recorded, including 52 different species of birds of prey – the rarest of which is the lammergeyer which nests on the cliffs of Gof Bongole. The crater lakes are a great place to spot many waders. Lake Paradise is particularly rewarding, and between 10 and 20 waders can usually be seen in one go.

Just north of the reserve lies the black lava Galgalla desert, which is the best place to look for the endemic William’s lark and a number of near-endemics including Somali bee-eater, masked lark and Somali sparrow.

Best Time for Bird Watching

Any time of the year will be rewarding for birders visiting Marsabit NP. However, if possible, November and April should be avoided as the rains in these months may interfere with your plans. Generally, a lot of the park’s more unusual specials are resident, so they can be spotted at any time. November to April sees the arrival of migrant species.

Best Parks for Birding–Includes Birding Rating

The best wildlife viewing parks, such as the Masai Mara and Amboseli, offer a solid introduction to East Africa’s common birds. The Rift Valley Lakes including Lake Nakuru and Bogoria are the places to go to mark off many waterbirds, while the arid north, such as Samburu, offers many dry-country specials. Arabuko-Sokoke and Kakamega Forest are birding hotspots as well.

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